Mark 2:1-12 (p. 700) May 25, 2014
Introduction:
As you know, and if you don’t here’s a reminder, one of my favorite books is Mike Yaconelli’s “Messy Spirituality.” He ends chapter two which is called, “The place where our messiness meets Jesus” with this story:
An older man with cerebral palsy sat in a motorized wheelchair, watching everyone else party. (He wasn’t a college student. Technically he wasn’t even supposed to be at the conference.) I was seated next to him, watching the students celebrate, when suddenly the wheelchair lunged into the celebration. The man’s arms waved, his chair careened around the room with a jerky, captivating motion, his mouth struggled open and shut making incomprehensible sounds. Somehow a man who couldn’t dance had become part of the graceful dancing of the crowd. Without warning, his motorized wheelchair lurched to the base of the stage, racing back and forth through a series of figure eights, twirls, and circles. He was laughing, lost in the joy of the Lord. His joy had taken a cold, ugly piece of motorized machinery and transformed it into an extension of his unconfined worship. He and his wheelchair had become one, a dancing, living thing. This man with a crippled body found a way to dance the undanceable.
I envy him. I want my crippled soul to escape the cold and sterile spirituality of a religion where only the perfect nondisabled get in. I want to lurch toward Jesus, where the unwelcome receive welcome and the unqualified get qualified. I want to hear Jesus tell me I can dance when everyone else says I can’t. I want to hear Jesus walk over and whisper to this handicapped, messy Christian, “Do you want to dance?”
Jesus began His public ministry by unrolling the scroll of the prophet Isaiah and reading “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoner and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Is. 61:1-2)
He rolls the scroll back up...looks around Him in the synagogue and says, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21)
The dance has begun and everyone is invited to it. The wedding party has started...and the groom is here!
What really bothered those who believed they had an automatic invitation to the party, was how Jesus invited everyone...the poor, the blind, the prisoner, and the oppressed. The good news is for those who have always been picked last when teams are chosen...everyone wanted to come to the dance, but some couldn’t get there on their own. It took:
I. FRIENDS THAT CARED ENOUGH TO CARRY US
“Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat, carried by 4 of them!” (Mk. 2:30)
Some men...4 men...we don’t even know their names, but I guarantee you don’t go through this kind of effort if you don’t care about the one you’re carrying!
Our text finds Jesus in Capernaum. He’s teaching near home...he’s come home. Our text says, He preached the word to them...and there was such a “large crowd there was no room left, not even outside the door.”
Everyone wants to here “this word preached.” It’s a non exclusive party according to Jesus. God is inviting “whosoever will to come.”
[One of my favorite activities that Kari and I have taken part in is Southland’s Jesus Prom led by one of my mentors “Brewster Mcleod.”
SHOW VIDEO
Why do this? Because most of these 1500 special adults have never had a party thrown in their honor, or been to a prom...and Jesus’ words, “when you give a banquet invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” (Lk. 14:13-14)]
Do you know why pure religion is found in caring for widows and orphans? Widows and orphans can’t pay you back! (James 1:27)
At the Jesus prom, those invited can’t get there unless someone cares enough to bring them...
And the paralyzed man in our text could not get to Jesus on his own...He couldn’t get through the crowd...He couldn’t get off the mat by himself.
None of us can...this is the truth of ministry. People, especially hurting people cannot come to a saving, relationship with God, through His Son Jesus Christ, unless someone cares enough to help them. Listen to this truth in Paul’s exhortation to the Romans 10.
ROMANS 10:13-17 (p. 788)
Everyone is invited...Jew & Gentile, but the only way anyone can hear, believe and act upon God’s invitation is for a “messenger” to deliver it, preach it. That messenger has beautiful feet, shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”
4 guys made an intentional decision to get their friend to Jesus...a conspiracy of love (but an amazing concept). What if we started those same conspiracies to win lost friends to Christ? What if we got off our blessed assurance and started carrying hurting people to Jesus, to His body, the Church, for healing?
George Barna says, “86% of people who are in a saving relationship with Christ have been brought there by a relative, friend, or neighbor. People cannot hear unless someone cares enough to share it with them...and the most effective witnesses aren’t behind a pulpit on Sunday morning...and sometimes those folks hurt so bad, are paralyzed in their life so desperately, they need to be carried.
Compassion for people who were paralyzed with sin is exactly what motivates Jesus to come here. It’s why he ate and drank with sinners, touched lepers, and stopped funeral processions. It’s why he cried at Lazarus’ tomb and he came to stretch out His arms and carry us to the Father...Here’s the heart of Jesus
MATTHEW 9:9-13 (p. 680)
When Jesus tells the Pharisees “Go learn what this means...”I deserve mercy not sacrifice” He is saying, sacrifice means giving up something...mercy, means “compassion extended to real people. Go learn to love real people and stop thinking your money, your service, or your work is what God deserves.
Healthy people don’t need a doctor...sick people do...and if the world never experiences mercy first, they’ll care very little about the church’s sacrifice.
I think it’s horrible that the church today has become primarily known for what it opposes instead of for loving like Jesus...if we’d love like Jesus, the truth will change hearts and lives.
When we as God’s people begin to be transparent and other’s focused in regards to our greatest hurts...it’s then I believe the Holy Spirit releases a power in our weakness.
Have you been through a divorce or separation and God has brought you to a place of healing and maturity that you can minister to those now going through the same struggle. [Mary in WV...I’m drowning, I’m lost...I feel worthless]
She needs someone who remembers that...and how God brought you through it...I’ve met people who, have never come through it...they stay in it...and there is no power or healing.
What if your co-workers mom has just died, she’s grieving...Isn’t there someone who can minister...a ladies group or study that can say, “come share your heart with us?”
We must be intentional about picking up the mat...and sometimes it takes a group of us.
But please understand
II. GETTING PEOPLE TO JESUS IS RISKY
“Since they could not get him to Jesus, because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.”
I’m not sure why there is such a large crowd...usually it’s because people want to be fed that’ll get you 4 or 5 thousand...or because they need a miracle, or because they want to witness what’s happening...different motives that cause the numbers to swell.
But getting through the crowd to have an intimate encounter is difficult...and it can be risky.
In church real intimate encounters of worship and healing are still...risky...opening yourself up...revealing the brokenness of your heart and life...after all those are “the sacrifices God desires...a broken and contrite heart” according to Ps. 51:17.
Folks getting a paralyzed friend up on a roof, even if there’s 4 of you, is risky. And digging a hole in another man’s house is risky. (Can’t you imagine the owner’s face as a hole big enough to lower a man through is mad in his roof?)
But his friends have pushed “All In” for this friend...and it’s Jesus or whatever consequences might come.
If we could all have this compassion through the week our church would be packed...and no one would ever complain about preferences...it takes teamwork to get people to Jesus...but it’s always worth the sacrifice and the risk.
By the way these guys could have found a million reasons to turn around...to maybe try another day, but they didn’t...It was worth their time and effort to help their friend dance.
It’s also risky but there will always be people who criticize the way it’s done over the why it’s done.
“When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ Now some teachers of the law were sitting there thinking to themselves, ‘why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blasphemy! Who can forgive sins, but God above?’”
Blasphemy is claiming to be God...or claiming the qualities of God...and Jesus’ critics are right...only God can forgive sins.
Jesus discerns what they’re thinking in their hearts...I’m truly glad I don’t have that ability aren’t you!!!
They don’t like what he’s doing...or how he’s doing it...so their attitudes change and they become critical...I think as part of our sinful nature we have this as a default setting in our human spirit...find fault, criticize, blame!
Jesus knew in His spirit...(by the way, I don’t think you have to be God’s son to discern this...or what people are thinking sometimes).
But because we aren’t Jesus...God’s Son in the flesh, most of the time we don’t find out the criticism until it surfaces in a clique, or “word gets back to us.”
Here’s what I know happens though...James words it:
JAMES 3:9-18 (p. 848)
It’s a heart situation that flows out of your mouth. Look at what’s produced...fruit or salt water, peace or discord.
Jesus knows his critics so he says, “which is easier to say, “your sins are forgiven or “rise take up your bed and walk?”
Which is easier to say? Well to say...just speak the words...it’s easier to say “your sins are forgiven.” It’s easier to say because no one sees that happen.
But if you say, “get up, take your bed and walk” and nothing happens...you’re proven wrong immediately.
And then Jesus showed His authority and power over everything...”He says, but so that you will know the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...I say to you “get up take your mat and go home! AND...
“He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all.”
It took faith for this man to be healed...His friend’s faith and His! “Their faith.” (v. 5)
But there will always be people who criticize the way people are made whole...the process...becomes more important than people...the Sabbath more important than man.
It’s uncomfortable for those who don’t like change when Jesus begins to forgive sins and help people get off the mat. It gets crowded for “preaching” but allow the hurting in...allow Jesus to start healing...and that gets...“blasphemous.”
But if we would open the roof for paralyzed people to dance...our witness to the world would bring amazement and praise...and the crowd would say:
III. “WE’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS!”
When someone who’s paralyzed gets off the floor and walks, runs and then hopefully dances – it amazes people...it fills them with wonder, and they praise God.
That is what passionately preparing all people for an eternity with Christ really means. That’s our witness to Gardenside and the world. Make a hole in the roof so people can get past the crowd and the critics and then they can dance with joy...and so can we.
(Read Footprints...new version)
Footprints...A New Version
Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together. For much of the way, the Lord’s footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace. But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns.
For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord’s, soon paralleling His consistently. You and Jesus are walking as true friends! This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus’ are now walking precisely in His steps. Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one.
This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger. Eventually they disappear altogether. There is only one set of footprints. They have become one.
This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand. A variable mess of prints. You are amazed and shocked. Your dream ends.
Now you pray:
“Lord, I understand the first scene, with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with You.” That is correct.”
“And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps, following You very closely.” “Very good...You have understood everything so far.”
When the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like You in every way.” “Precisely.”
“So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first.”
There is a pause as the Lord answers, with a smile in His voice.
“You didn’t know? It was then that we danced!”
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to weep, a time to laugh, at time to mourn, and a time to dance.
-Ecclesiastes 3:1;4
Someday I will dance with joy and then fall on my face at Jesus’ feet in praise and thanksgiving...As Colton Dixon said, “If I had no voice. If I had no tongue I would dance for you like the rising son. And when that day comes and I see your face I will shout your endless glorious praise!
Let’s Pray.
